By LEIGH M. CALDWELL

City commissioners plan to discuss the creation of a new liquor license at their regular meeting on Dec. 27. The meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at City Hall, was rescheduled from its regular day – the third Monday of the month – because this year that date fell on Christmas Eve.

Last month, Benton Bowl owner Mike Fitzpatrick asked the council for a liquor license. Fitzpatrick said he plans to sell beer only, from a cooler at his snack bar counter.

Fitzpatrick’s real goal in applying for the license, he says, is to install video gambling machines at his business. State law requires businesses that want to install in the machines to have a liquor license.

The Benton Bowl owner says his business needs the added revenue from the machines to survive.

Mayor Gary Kraft, who is also the city’s liquor comissioner, has said granting the license would require creation of a new license, and a new category of liquor license, because the bowling alley does not fit into current categories the city has. The commission has been studying the matter and checking with other municipalities to see how they handle bowling alley liquor licenses, and if they have created any problems.

The rest of the agenda for the final regular Benton City Council meeting of the year is short, with payment of routine bills and discussion of the 2013 Motor Fuel Tax fund program.